The Thing

Man and Materialism, by Fred Hoyle.161 pp. New York: Harper & Brothers. $2.75

Mr. Hoyle, who will be remembered as an. astronomer given to somewhat sensational speculations, begins this book with a puerile witticism and proceeds to elucidate all the problems of mankind in a style that would be appropriate in a “Book of Knowledge” written for bright ten-year-olds. But, if one can endure his patronizing manner, he does have something to say.